Vacuum floor scrubbing and washing machine



' l 647 005 Oct. A 25, 1927. w- L. KEEPER VACUUM FLOOR SCRUBBING ANDWASHING MACIHINE Filed Dec;- 17. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1927' w. L.KEEFER VACUUM FLOOR SCRUBBHIG AND WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1923 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 25, 19271.

1,647,005 w. 1.. KEEFER VACUUM FLOOR TSCRUBBING AND WASHING MACHFIIIIIEFiled Dec. 17. 1923 4' Sheets-Sheet 3 F m g m Q & [9 HI IIIIII II mIIIIIIII III 3 "III II III III III I 3 q) Q Q g Q l I L? i I Q T? 4 Q D6 I; wzzwff /a a I 1 Oct. 25, 1927. W L. KEEPER 47,005

VACUUM FLOOR SCRUBBING AND WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17. 1923 4sham-sheet Patent on. 25, 1927.'

WALTER L. KEEFER, OF GBERSBUBG,

rnnnsrnvnivrm'nssrenon 'ro rm WOLF co, (if? GEEBSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A.GORPORA'IIUN on PENNHFZLVMIA VAGUUMELOQR fiCRUBBING AND WASHING-llpp'lieution filed December f7, 1929.

power-driven machine of the close described which is particularlyapplicable to the scrub bing and cleaning of floors of great area, esfound in hotels, factories, public buildings,

W hospitals and large private residences.

A. more specific object of my invention is toprovide a scrubbing andwashing machine that shell be equally efiective for any direction ofmovement.- end that shall use the W some cleansing medium over and overagain.

Another ob ect of my invention is to provide e scrubbing and washingmachine, wherein the cleansing medium on the scrubbed surface is removedand returned 29 through filtering means to the supply tank originallyholding the some.

A further object of my invention is to provide s sedimentation chamberin e cleansing medium circulating system which is de- 55 signed toremove the cleansing fluid from the air, permitting the latter to passthrough the fan and associated passages in a. substantially drycondition,-the chamber also causing a separation of the heavier foreignmatter from the cleansing medium, so that relatively clean fluid may besupplied to the filtering means.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an attachment forthe main scrublbing machine in the form of an independent- 1y movablescrubbing unit of reduced size which receives its supply of cleansingfluid from the tank of the main mechine'and which discharges thecleansin fluid removed from the scrubbed surface bac into thesedimentation chamber of said main machine.

Although the primary object of my 'invention is to provide a vacuumscrubbing and washing machine, it is apparent that 4 certain features ofmy invention are capable of quite general application, as in waxing andpolishing machines and also in grinding and polishing machines, all aswill be apparent more full hereinafter. With these an other objects andapplications in mind, my invention further consists in the details ofconstruction and operation hereinafterdesc'ribed and claimed andwherein- I the independently movable scrubbinget- Seriel No. 681,16

7 Fig. 1 is s top plen view of one form of embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevationel view of the structure of Fig. 1 shownpartially in section; 9 v

mg. 6 is e longitudinal sectional view of the structure of the precedingfigures token on the line TIL-di l of Fig. 1;

Fig. t is a. longitudinal sectional view of techment, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are top plan and side ele vetionsl views, respectively, ofthe structure of Fig. i.

in the illustrated form of embodiment of my invention shownin Figs. 1, 2and 3, is supporting framework 1 comprises a horizontally positionedplatform 2 and depending side vand end portions 3, the letter defininga. chamber 5 at one end of the horizontel latform, 2 and also providingsupports or a pair of centrally ositioned wheels 6. The forward endortion of the supporting framework 1 may e further supported by a pairof caster wheels 7.

A scrubber 8 of annular form is mounted within the chamber 5, forrot-ative en a ement with the surface to be cleaned, by meansof asupporting gear-wheel 9 which is mounted on a vertically positioned rod11 having a portion thereof extending up through a. perforation 12 inthe horizontal plate 2. Relative axial movement between the lower end ofthe vertical rod'll and the brush support 9 is avoided bye pin 13 which'extends through aligned perforations 14. and 15 in a hub portion 16 ofthe brush support 9 and in the vertical rod 11, respectively.

The vertically upri ht rod 11 is revolubly mounted in a cylindricalbushing 17 having an outer surface in threaded engagement with an innersurface of a bushing 18 which is supported in the perforation 12 by ahorizontally extending flange 19 adapted to engage the top sideof thehorizontal support- 100 ing plate 2. The lower end of the sleeve 17 isspaced from the hub portion 16 of the brush support 9 by means of a.thrust hear ing 21 of usual design. The upper end portion of thevertical rod 11 extending beyond 105 the end of the threaded sleeve 17is provided with an annular member 22 which .issocured on the yerticalrod 11 by; means of a pin 23.

When the threaded sleeve 17in turned, an

axial movement of the rod 11 ensues, causing a corresponding verticalmovement of the brush 8. In practice, this adjustable feature is madeuse of to compensate for the wearing down of the scrubber 8. The brushadjusting sleeve 17 may be secured in a desired position by means of alock pin 24 which is slidably mounted in a horizontal perforation 25 inthe flangeportion 19 of the bushing 18, the end of the locking pin 24being adapted to engage vertical slots 26 formed in the threaded surfaceof the brush adjusting sleeve 17.

The scrubber 8 may be actuated by means of a motor 29 which is supportedon a housing 31 positioned to the rear of the scrubber supportingapparatus on the top side of the horlzontal supporting plate 2. A shaft32 of the motor 29 extends vertically downwardly into the chamber formedby the housing 31 and it is provided with a pulleywheel 33. which isoperatively associated by means of a belt 34 with a. pulley-wheel 35mounted on a vertical shaft 36 journaled in a bearing 37 supported'onthe horizontal platform 2. The vertical shaft 36 is provided with aprojecting portion 38 which ex- -tends through a perforation 39 in thehorizontal supporting platform 2, said project- '.ins1

immediately adjacent to the scrubber 8 by ing portion being providedwith gear teeth which are adapted to mesh with the teeth of thesupporting gear-wheel 91 The portion of the horizontal platform 2 to therear of the brush adjusting mechanism, including that embraced by thepulley wheel 35, the housing 31 and the motor 29, ma be enclosed by arectan ularenclosure 42 having front, rear and si e walls 43, 44, 45 and46, respectively. The portion of the enclosed space above the drivingmechanism for the scrubber 8, may be formed into a sup ly tank orchamber 47 for a cleansing me mm by a base partition 48, the enclosedspace below said base partition 48-having an opening to the outsidethrough perforations 49 formed in the side walls 45 and 46. Thecleansing medium, which is contained in the supply tank 47, may bedelivered to the e portion of the scrubbing chamber 5 means of a supplypipe 50 through a control valve 51, the latter having an operatinghandle 52 extending out through the rear wall 44.

mg a vacuum in said scrubber housm The cleansing medium, which is suplied to the scrubber 8, may be revented rom escaping through therelatively small air ap between the surface to be cleaned and it e loweredge of the scrubber housing shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Referringparticularly toFig. '3, a suction nozzle 53 of are- I Hate form opensinto the scrubber chamber underside of the horizontal .suflicient tocause a relatively large flow of air through said air ga into the vacuumchamber 5, around the e ges of the scrubber 8 and into the nozzle 53 bymeans of a rotary fan or other fluid-propelling means 56 which ismounted on the lowe end ortion of the driven shaft 32 in tin housing'31. Practical experience has shown that said fiow of air removesthecleansirg medium from the floor surface immediately. adjacent to theed es of the scrubber 8, leaving the samec ean and substantially dry.The inlet opening of the fan 56 is. extended down into the sedimentationchamber by means of a pipe 57 which is carried by the platform 2. Theoutlet opening'of the fan 56 is in the enclosedspace below the basepartition 48 which opens to the outside through the side wallperforations 49.

The supernatant liquid or effluent in the sedimentation tank 55 may beremoved therefrom by means of a centrifugal pump 58 and dischargedthrough pipe sections 59, 60 and 61 into the open end of the supply tank47. The pipe section 59 extends between the pump outlet opening and thepipe section 60, the latter being mounted on a removable cover plate 62positioned in the rear end of the sedimentation chamber 55. The pipesection 61 extends between the section 60 and the open end of the supplytank 47.

The centrifugal pump 58 is provided with a vertical shaft 63 whichextends through a. bearing 64 having a horizontally extending circularflange 65 resting on the upper side ofthe supporting plate 2. The pump.58 may be more rigidly secured in position wheel 67 which isoperatively associated by means of a'belt 68 with the driving pulleywheel 33.

In order to further screen the used cleansing medium prior to its mixingwith that in the supply tank 47, the same is caused to pass through aseries of superimposed filtering screens 69 and 70 which are mounted onthe upper end of the tank 47.. T0 still further purify the cleansingmedium, a body 70 of sand or crushed coke or like purifying material maybe interposed between the screens 69 and 70. A suitable handle 71 formovin the machine may be attached to the depen ing side-portion 3. Acontrol button 72 for the drivin motor 29 may also be mounted on-thehand e 71.

Assuming the control valve 51 open to permit of a supply of thecleansing medium to the scrubber 8, when the motor control button 72 isclosed, the scrubber 8, the rotary fan 56 and the centrifugal pump 58are simultaneously operated, the rotary fan 56 serving to create avacuum in the scrubber chamber 5, whereby a relatively large flow of airmay be established around the scrubber 8 and drawn up into the nozzle53. As a result of said flow of air, the cleansing medium on the floorsurface not directly under the scrubber 8 is removed, leaving a surfacewhich is clean and substantially dry. The air and fluid drawn u into thenozzle 53 may then be discharge into the-sedimentation or expansionchamber 55 where the air expands sufficiently to permit the cleansmgmedium to be deposited. The relatively dry air, after being freed fromthe cleansing medium, is now removed from the sedimentation chamber 55by the rotary fan 56 and discharged from the machine through the sidewall perforations 49. The supernatant liquid, which is formed in thesedimentation tank 55, may be removed by means of the pump 58 anddischarged through the filtermg screens 69 and 70 back into the supplytank 47.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is shown an attachment for the main scrubbingmachine above described in the form of an independently movablescrubbing unit which receives its supply of cleansing fluid from thetank 47 of the main machine and which discharges the cleansing mediumremoved from the scrubbed surface back into the sedimentation chamber 55of said main machine. The

attachment therein shown comprises a casing 73 forming a hollow chamber74 adapted to receive a scrubber 75, the latter being mounted forvertical adjustment in the general manner shown in the previous figures.'lhe scrubber 75 is'directly driven by a pinion 7 6 of a driving motor77, the latter being mounted on the upper side of the casing 73 andenclosed by a protective casing 78.

The cleansing medium may be supplied to the scrubber 75 through aflexible pipe 79 adapted to have an operative connection with the mainsupply pipe 50. The cleans ing medium not 'directly under the scrubberand particularly that adjacent to the outer edges of the scrubberchamber may be removed by creating a vacuum insaid scrubber chamber. andthis may be efiected through a nozzle 80, similar to the nozzle 53 ofthe main machine. The nozzle 80 is operatively associated with thesedimentation chamber 55 by means of a flexible pipe 81, the end ofwhich is adapted to be removably inserted through a normally closedopening 83 in the side wall of the sedimentation chamber 55. The furtheroperation of the above-de scribed attachment is the same as thatdescribed for Figs. 1, 2 and 3. It will be understood, however, that thefan 56 is of sufiicient size and power to supply the quantity of airnecessary to produce a vacuum in the nozzle 80 as well as in the nozzle53, if both nozzles are operated simultaneously or singly. When thescrubber 75 is being used the suction produced in the nozzle 53 willprevent the material delivered into the sedi- 'mentation chamber 55 bythe pipe 81 from passing downwardly through the pipe 54.

ithile l have shown but one embodiment of my invention, for the purposeof describing the same and illustrating. its principles of constructionand of operation, it is apparent that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beimposed thereon as are indicated in the appended claims or as aredemanded by the prior art.

I claim: I

1. in combination, a scrubber, a chamber for supplying a cleansingmedium to said scrubber, a suction nozzle positioned adjacent to saidscrubber, means for creating a suction in said nozzle,-means forreceivmg the discharge from said nozzle and permitting the separation ofthe air and cleansing medium in said discharge, pumping meansinterconnecting said second-mentioned means and said supply chamber, andmeans for actuating said scrubber and said suction and said pumpingmeans.

2. A machine comprising a supportin body movable over a surface to becleans a scrubber, said supporting body including a housing for saidscrubber, a suction nozzle opening into said housing, a rotary fan forcreating a suction in said nozzle, an expansion chamber carried by saidsupporting body and adapted to receive the discharge of said nozzle, atank for supplying liquid to said scrubber, said tank being providedwith filtering means, a pump for delivering the supernatant liquid insaid expansion chamber to said filtering means, and means for actuatingsaid scrubber, fan and pump.

l wan'rnn L. KEErnn.

